ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Chairman of the Word Power Ministry Board, Pastor Dr Donville Bell is calling for the government to provide state funding for faith-based social outreach and greater inclusion of churches engaged in disaster response efforts across Jamaica.

Bell made the call during the 18th Word Power Conference held Saturday, when he addressed attendees and event partners on the vital role churches continue to play in times of national crisis.

Speaking against the backdrop of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, Bell emphasised that churches have consistently proven themselves to be critical first responders during emergencies yet are often overlooked when resources are allocated.

“The church is one of the first points of contact for struggling families and displaced persons long before they reach a government agency,” Bell stated.

He added: “In moments of crisis, people turn to familiar faces and trusted hands. For many communities, that trusted institution is the church.”

Bell referenced the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, noting that churches played a pivotal role in supporting impacted residents when many communities were left reeling from the storm’s impact.

According to the senior clergyman, churches across affected areas opened their doors as emergency shelters, distributed care packages, provided meals, and offered emotional and spiritual counselling to families coping with trauma and loss.

“When residents were displaced by Hurricane Melissa, the church did not hesitate. We partnered informally with state agencies and community groups, but too often churches are expected to carry out these acts of compassion without the financial support or resources necessary to sustain such efforts,” he underscored.

Bell emphasised that faith-based organisations have long been competent social partners in tackling issues such as poverty, violence prevention, youth misconduct, family dysfunction, and disaster relief. However, he noted that despite the significant reliance on churches during times of crisis, they are often excluded from formal funding mechanisms and national preparedness frameworks.

“The government regularly calls upon churches to support social initiatives and community programs. Yet many churches are expected to carry out this work with limited or, in some cases, no resources at all. While we are honoured to serve our communities, even the most conservative among us recognises that it takes cash to care. This work becomes even more challenging as we face rising utility costs while also providing ongoing assistance to families and members struggling with the same cost-of-living pressures. We must disrupt the inequitable practices that allocate the lion’s share of social assistance to other local development partners and instead, ensure that churches are adequately resourced to continue serving on the front line of community care,” he said.

He is now urging policymakers to formally incorporate churches into the country’s hurricane preparedness and disaster management plans, ahead of what forecasters predict could be another active hurricane season.

Bell continued: “We work with the Municipal Corporations and the Social Development Commission, but we now need our own seat at the table every time the country is planning for natural disasters like hurricanes. Incorporating us into the hurricane preparedness plans from the outset will strengthen community resilience and response while deepening social support systems in vulnerable neighborhoods year-round. Let’s start doing that now.”